Gardener's Supply Company

Gardening

About Gardener's Supply Company

Gardener’s Supply is 100% employee-owned and was founded in 1983 by a handful of enthusiastic Vermont gardeners. Today, the company serves millions of gardeners nationwide and is known for its’ award-winning gardening products. Though the company has grown, it remains passionately committed to help people experience the joys of gardening in harmony with nature.

When visiting Gardener’s at its corporate headquarters and retail store in Burlington’s Intervale, it’s hard to believe that what is now beautiful gardens, farms and trails was formerly a landfill. In 1986, Gardener’s Supply spearheaded an Intervale clean-up effort to restore the Intervale – 700 acres of bottomland within the city limits of Burlington, Vermont – to its agricultural roots and feed Burlington.

Gardener's Supply actively promotes gardening as an important way for people to make the world a better place. The company donates 8% of profits to support programs and organizations that are using gardening to improve the quality of people's lives and the health of our environment. The company provides garden grants across the U.S. and in Vermont that focus on gardening and hunger-relief supporting many community gardens, urban farms and workplace gardens.

Employee-owners participate in a Garden Guru training program that helps the company provide the best service and support in the business. The company also prides itself on providing online how-to information and inspiration for both flower and vegetable gardeners and an active Ask A Gardener email and phone hotline.

With its own research and development team, the company also works with market gardeners, universities, customers, manufacturers and suppliers throughout the world to design and introduce their award-winning innovative gardening products.

Our 100% employee-owned business has been focused on a triple-bottom line since we started in 1983, and we know that gardening is a force for social and environmental change. B Corp certification will help us create new conversations around the company, with our customers and in the community about our social and environmental impact, and set ongoing performance goals for us to achieve as our business continues to grow.

B Corp certification solidifies our continued commitment to people, planet and profits and gives a new internationally respected means of measuring our progress and success.

The Change We Seek®

Gardener’s Supply began with a mission that’s exactly the same today as it was when it was started in 1983:We are in business to spread the joys and rewards of gardening, because gardening nourishes the body, elevates the spirit, builds community, and makes the world a better place.

Gardener’s Supply has long been a socially responsible business, which has been expressed by supporting employee volunteerism, sourcing sustainable products, becoming 100% employee-owned and donating 8 percent of their profits back to the community.

What makes us a better company?

B Impact Report

Certified since:

January 2014

Summary:

Company Score

Median Score*

Environment

Environment

The Environment section of the Assessment evaluates a company's environmental performance through its facilities; materials, resource, and energy use; and emissions. Where applicable, it also considers a company's transportation/distribution channels and environmental impact of its supply chain. This section also measures whether a company's products or services are designed to solve an environmental issue, including products that aid in the provision of renewable energy, conserve resources, reduce waste, promote land/wildlife conservation, prevent toxic/hazardous substance or pollution, or educate, measure, or consult to solve environmental problems.

16

9

Workers

Workers

The Worker section of the survey assesses the company's relationship with its workforce. This section measures how the company treats its workers through compensation, benefits, training, and ownership opportunities provided to workers. It also focuses on the overall work environment within the company through management/worker communication, job flexibility and corporate culture, and worker health and safety practices.

50

22

Customers

Customers

The Customers section of the Assessment measures the impact a company has on its customers. The section focuses on whether a company sells products or services that promote public benefit, and if those products/services are targeted towards serving underserved populations. Questions in this section will measure whether a company's product or service is designed to solve a social or environmental issue (e.g. improves health, preserves environment or creates economic opportunity to individuals or communities, promotes the arts/sciences, or increases the flow of capital to purpose-driven enterprises).

0

N/A

Community

Community

The Community section of the survey assesses a company's impact on its community. The Community section evaluates a company's supplier relations, diversity, and involvement in the local community. The section also measures the company's practices and policies around community service and charitable giving. In addition, this section includes if a company's product or service is designed to solve a social issue, including access to basic services, health, education, economic opportunity, arts, and increasing the flow of capital to purpose-driven enterprises.

17

32

Governance

Governance

The Governance section of the Assessment evaluates a company's accountability and transparency. The section focuses on the company's mission, stakeholder engagement, and overall transparency of the company's practices and policies.

Community: Screens suppliers with regard to social or environmental performance; >75% of the company is owned by women or individuals from underrepresented populations; >50% of employees took paid time off for community service